During his two terms as the fortieth president of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary in which he recorded, by hand, his innermost thoughts and observations on the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day-to-day occurrences of his presidency. Now, nearly two decades after he left office, this remarkable record—the only daily presidential diary in American history—is available for the first time.

Edited by historian Douglas Brinkley, The Reagan Diaries provides a striking insight into one of this nation’s most important presidencies and sheds new light on the character of a true American leader. Whether he was in his White House residence study or aboard Air Force One, each night Reagan wrote about the events of his day, which often included his relationships with other world leaders and the unforgettable moments that defined the era.

Seldom before has the American public been given access to the unfiltered experiences and opinions of a president in his own words. To read these diaries—filled with Reagan’s trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor—is to gain a unique understanding of one of the most beloved occupants of the Oval Office in our nation’s history.

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Quotes & Awards

“Historians will treasure Douglas Brinkley’s superbly edited version of President Reagan’s diaries for generations to come. In one remarkable entry after another, the president’s compelling voice, strength of character, and sunny personality come vividly to life.”

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author

“The diaries will be a prime source for studying one of American’s more important presidents.”

Robert Dallek, New York Times bestselling author

“Reagan’s diaries are revealing, and Brinkley has done historians and the broad public a great service by editing them for publication.”

Publishers Weekly

“Narrator Eric Conger doesn’t attempt to do a Reagan impersonation; instead, he reads with a staccato style that matches the diary’s fragments…a portrait emerges of a man of faith who is concerned with the moral implications of his actions…The glimpses of Reagan’s negotiating style provided in his diaries will be interesting reading for anyone involved in politics, whether they be Republican or Democrat.”

AudioFile

#1 New York Times Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller

Listener Opinions

by Dameon | 5/17/2011

" An awesome insight in to Histories greatest President of modern times. You get to see what he thought of Legislation, certain people, things that happened around him, and his awesome wife! Everything he writes about Nancy reads as a love story!
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by Carla | 2/2/2011

" Vanilla Coke or Cherry Coke from Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. The real stuff not the stuff in the can.
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by Monica | 11/28/2010

" Parts of it are very boring. But overall it's a glimpse into the "day in the life of" of one of the greatest.
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by Kaworu | 8/26/2010

" Interesting historical record of events of the 80s and of the presidency itself. It is obviously a very strenuous job. Also good insight into Reagan himself - important man, whether you agree or disagree with him.
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" Still reading...it's a lot of pages but since it's a series of journal entries you can read as much or as little as you want in one sitting. A fascinating look into the mind of modern America's most revered conservative icon.
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Dan | 5/31/2010

" We need another one of him.
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Ben | 4/14/2010

" Even though the details at times approach the mundane, the reader gets the sense of the great respect this man had for the office of President of The United States. Not a page turner overall, but some excitement nonetheless.
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